Thanks again to Kirk2004 for his editing and his patience. Thank you, Kirk!
~*~*~
Kit tells Michael the truth
Michael finished releasing Kit from the table and rubbed her wrists. He took a seat on the couch, pulled her to his lap, and hid a smile at her surprise when he did. He took the afghan off the back of the couch and wrapped her in it.
"Okay, Kitten, I want the truth. Oh no, love, don't struggle. You have to stay right here. Now tell me what's going on." He paused and then added softly, "I'll know if you're lying."
He gave her time to compose herself. Silent tears flowed from her beautiful green eyes, over her cheeks and down her face. She wiggled her hand up between their bodies and used the afghan to wipe her face. She started choking but, before Michael could do anything, she pulled herself together and gulped breaths. The inward battle was so intense and so obvious, Michael hurt for her. He kissed her brow.
"Come on, baby. It can't be as bad as you think."
"It is," she sobbed, paused and then continued. "About four months ago I...I took a dress and a pair of matching earrings from those I had purchased in Paris for Donavan. I don't know why I took them. It wasn't as if we couldn't afford it if I really wanted them, and they weren't even the ones that I really liked. It was as if I was compelled to take them. I hadn't even gotten them home when I knew I was no thief. I took the dress and the earrings back the next day, but Suzette found me with them. I tried to explain but she wouldn't listen. She had a picture of me putting the earrings in my purse. She was going to tell Donavan. Tell you. You'd divorce me she said laughing. It would be the excuse you needed. You were banging Jenny anyway. I—"
"Banging Jenny? And you believed her?" Michael was perplexed at the story that was unfolding, but the idea that he was 'banging' Jenny was too incredulous for words. However, the realization that this wasn't about an affair was a relief, too.
"At first I didn't believe her, but she was so insistent and then she said she wouldn't say anything if I did a couple of little things for her. The first month or so it was just sneak 'that pretty silk scarf' for her or those 'nice earrings' or the 'lovely bracelet'. I would ring them up later and pay for them myself, but it was never enough. On day she wanted something else, I don't remember what, and I said no more. She just laughed and showed me more pictures of me sneaking the things she wanted in a bag or in my purse. She must have been watching each time she wanted something. I was devastated. I didn't keep the receipts; I couldn't prove that I had paid for them. The pictures looked like I was stealing them.
"Then she said she would tell Donavan and you and call the police. She had proof. She wanted me to...to...to bring her to—oh God, how can I tell you. She wanted me to go down on her...to make her orgasm with my fingers and my mouth," she whispered. "I said I wouldn't. She just lay down on the desk, spread her legs and looked at the pictures. I did what she wanted.
"I'd never done anything like that before...it made me sick. She had a camcorder in the room pointed right at the table. I didn't know that until the next time when she wanted me to do it again. She showed me the film. She said she'd make me a ... a ... good little whore. I felt so dirty. It was after that, that I started to avoid you. I loved you so much, and she was making love so depraved. I'd never even kissed another girl that way. It made me nauseous; I threw up and she laughed.
"Then about six weeks ago when you were on that week long business trip to New York, she found out you were going to be gone. I didn't tell anyone when you were out of town, but somehow she found out that time. Remember when you called that Wednesday evening, and I said I had the flu and didn't go to work and later when you came home I said I was really sick and didn't go to work the rest of the week. It's because I couldn't. I could hardly walk.
"Suzette showed up at the house with a friend of hers the night before you called. Before I knew it, I was tied to the bed. After being used in ways I didn't know girls did to each other, she took your wire clippers and cut a piece of coat hanger and shaped it like an S. She held it over the shove. When she walked back into the bedroom, she was smiling and the coat hanger was glowing red-hot. They stuffed a sock in my mouth and Suzette held the S down on me. I felt a horrifying stab of pain. I tried to scream and I pulled on the ropes around my ankles and wrists. I remember thrashing my head back and forth. I tried to spit out the sock, but I think I must have passed out. The last thing I remember before things went black, was them standing of each side of the bed holding me down and laughing.
"When I came around the other bitch was wearing one of your shirts and Suzette was going though my jewelry. She took the opals you gave me for our anniversary. She took the opals," she sobbed. "Before they left, she told me the S stood for Suzette, and now I would always remember the good times we had together. They have pictures and a video of that night."
Kit told her story between sobs, punctuated with crying and fearful pauses. The fury and rage Michael felt was useless and too late, much too late, to stop the nightmare Katherine had experienced. It was staggering to think of the agony she had suffered. He knew Suzette had not only taken advantage of Katherine's innocence and naivety, but had also terrorized her. He was in shock. How had she endured the intimidation and threats these past months? He held her close, tenderly stroked her back, and encouraged her to finish the tale.
"Every day she would ask me if you discovered her 'brand' yet and if you'd asked for a divorce. That's why I told you I didn't feel well for the longest time. You kept encouraging me to go to the doctor. I held you off as long as I could without really going. You would want to make love, and I'd put you off saying I didn't feel well or something. When I couldn't, I would only 'do it' when it was very dark." A weak smile crossed Kit's face.
"Kit, why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you come to me immediately? Oh God, Kit, why? What she put you though!" Michael was all but shaking with anger; he could hardly think. "And then I tied you down and beat you. God, Kit, I'm so sorry. If I had known, I'd've never hit you with the paddle."
Katherine reached for and found some composure even, perhaps, some peace. She finally told Michael the awful secret. It was out; the battle was over. Whatever he did now was out of her hands.
"No, Michael, it's okay. You didn't beat me. You didn't hurt me. It was..."
"It was what?" Michael smiled and she trembled slightly.
"It was... I don't know why I... why I reacted like I did. Maybe it's been the stress of the last months. I thought that I would lose you. I was going to tell you. I just couldn't ever get myself to do it. I just kept getting deeper and deeper. Last week she hinted that she had something really special planned for me. I couldn't take it anymore. I thought of killing myself, but I couldn't do it."
